HOME BUYERS

WE’RE CONNECTED

With years of experience close partnerships in the region, we are able to connect you with quick access to resources that make buying and selling a home seemless.

WE’RE ALSO LOCALS

We know the Okanagan inside and out. We have the knowledge to determine your desired location with just a few pointers.

1) PICK THE RIGHT LENDER

There are many lending institutions out there that want your business. It is crucial that you take your time and figure out exactly which one is the right fit for your needs. When making your selection, we recommend cross-analyzing them across the following areas:

Their ability to explain things clearly and understandably

How competitive their fees and interest rates are

How closely their available programs fit your specific financial needs

2) CHECK YOUR CREDIT SCORE.

Your credit score is vital in determining if you are eligible for financing, and how much financing you can get. Before seeking financing from a lending institution, we recommend that you have them determine your credit score, so that we can determine exactly what your price range is

3) PUT TOGETHER IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

A good place to start when thinking about financing is to have all of the most important documents at the ready. These documents include:

Any financial statements

Bank account information

Investment statements (mutual funds, stocks, bonds, 401k, etc.)

Credit card statements

Information on any current loans

Tax returns (preferably for at least the past 2 years)

Statements detailing any other assets or liabilities

4) CHOOSE THE MOST SUITABLE TYPE OF LOAN

Once you have chosen the right lender, you will need to work together with them to determine which loan program they offer that will best suit you. There are so many options available that it can be confusing, but if you take your time and confer with your lending agent, you should be able to determine which offering will work best for your financial situation

YOUR NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY

Buying a home is one of the most important financial decisions you will make in your life, and sometimes it can necessitate changes in the way that you deal with money. When you make your purchase, you want to be financially stable, and have plenty of backup capital in case of emergencies. It is a good idea to have credit cards mostly paid, to open no more lines of credit, and to start out with at least enough savings to cover the initial costs of buying a home (inspection, down payment, insurance, etc.). With this type of long-term investment, it is vital that you spend wisely, and save whenever you can

Get Pre-Approved

Getting pre-approved for a loan isn’t mandatory, but it can make the difference when you are in the market to buy. If you are serious about buying a home, we recommend that you get pre-approved. This is primarily so that you can figure out your price range and start making plans around it. Beyond that, pre-approval puts you in a better position when making offers; you will be taken far more seriously if you have a lending institution backing your intent to buy

Research and Plan

Buying a home is a very big deal. For something so important, it is essential that you take your time and do your due diligence before you take the plunge into home ownership. Figure out exactly why you want to buy a home, do your research, and plan for the future. Part of this is determining not only what kind of home you want, but also what you can afford. Equipped with this knowledge, you can take control of your financial situation, and make the most out of what you have available

Don’t shy away from browsing

Even if you already know exactly what you want in a home, keeping an open mind early on can help you in the long run. Viewing a variety of homes can help you to determine what is practical, what isn’t, and other things that you may not have known about homes

Making offers

When you find a home that you love, the next step is to make an offer. When making an offer, it is important to take the condition of the local housing market into consideration, as this will determine the seller’s response. If the market favors buyers, then they will be more inclined to accept offers below their asking price. If the market is in favor of sellers, then the opposite applies. Other factors will affect the seller’s willingness to negotiate the price, including personal factors that you are unlikely to be aware of. As long as it is reasonable, don’t be afraid to make the offer that you are comfortable with

Final steps before owning your new home

Now that you and the seller have come to an agreement, it is time to put everything in order for one of the biggest decisions you will make in your life. A good place to start is with the lending institution that pre-approved your loan. Since you have been pre-approved, finalizing the loan should be very easy and straightforward. After this, there are just a few more things to do before becoming a new home owner

Do a title search – a title search gives you a full view of any legal matters concerning your home. This is to verify that there are no pending legal actions against the title of the property, which is necessary when purchasing Title Insurance.

One last Walk-through – during the last walk-through, you will have the chance to go around the property and make sure that everything is exactly as it was when you and the seller finalized your agreement. Around the same time, it is a good idea to do an inspection if you haven’t already done so, just so you have the complete picture of your new home.

Closing and Final Settlement – on the agreed upon closing date, you will go to your lawyer and finalize the transaction, signing all the necessary paperwork and paying all closing costs. This is where all of your legal fees, transfer taxes, and the down payment are paid.

Once all of this is complete, your lawyer will provide you with copies of all relevant documents, including the title deed. Congratulations, you are now the owner of a new home!

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CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

See what our clients are saying

Diana Andres

Purchasing a great place to live is not an easy task when the market is hot and the listings are low but Lisa went above and beyond the call of duty when she helped me find the perfect condo in an upscale neighborhood and with lots of square footage! Lisa was always pleasant and willing to accommodate my schedule. As a retired Realtor I appreciated the knowledge and expertise that Lisa had to offer. If you’re looking for a Professional Realtor who is energetic and will work for you until you find the perfect home, don’t hesitate to give Lisa a call, she definitely goes that extra mile!

Candace Hinz

Being a first time home buyer, there was a mixture of anxiety and apprehensiveness that came with the quest to finding the right home! Taylor simplified the process and patiently walked me through step by step and answered all of my (many) questions and concerns. I found her to be very accommodating and she delivered on everything she committed to in a timely manner! I felt like she was looking out for my best interests and went over and above to make sure I felt 100% about the purchase. I relied on her for her honest advice and trusted her knowledge and expertise, and she came through exceeding my expectations. I would highly recommend Taylor to anyone buying or selling!

The Frasers

It has been such a pleasure working with you. Your knowledge of the local real estate market was invaluable to us, your patience with our never ending questions amazing, and your honesty and integrity shone through every step of the way!

Trish and Bob

We were very fortunate to have enlisted Taylor to help us with this adventure. Her knowledge of the market and the local community gave us the confidence we needed in choosing the perfect house. We put an in offer while still out of province conditional upon seeing the property. No wasted time and no burden of additional travel costs to shop the market. It turns out we are in the perfect location for our needs and couldn’t be happier with our decision. Taylor handled everything with a level of professionalism and integrity that is not always commonplace in real estate. We recommend her to anyone looking for a competent and reliable agent who truly has her client’s interests at heart. Thanks for helping us make our dream a reality.

Sandra G.

It was a pleasure to work with you. You have truly mastered the art of easy and enjoyable home shopping. Thanks for your professionalism and heart-felt warmth.

Ryan Schreider

Just moved to Kelowna from Ottawa and got referred to Taylor. What a blessing!! As a first time home buyer there was so many things I did not know and I had so many questions.Taylor was there every step of the way, answering every question I had. Her amazing attitude and upbeat personality made the whole process incredibly easy. I would recommend her to anyone buying a place here in Kelowna!”

Joey & Ben Willis

After 27 years in our family home …it was time for a change. Thank you Lisa for your expertise, knowledge and dedication in helping us find our new home ! You made our experience positive and enjoyable!

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Love Kelowna Living is an independently owned and operated broker member of Century 21 Assurance Realty Ltd.
This is not an offer for sale. Not intended to induce breach of an existing agency agreement. MLS®, REALTOR®, and the associated logos are trademarks of The Canadian Real Estate Association.